MARAWI CITY (PIA) — Colonel Billy O. Dela Rosa, the newly appointed commander of the 103rd Infantry “Haribon” Brigade of the Philippine Army, presented his vision for peace in Lanao del Sur and plans for tackling ongoing security challenges in the province.
In his remarks during the brigade’s change of command ceremony on Wednesday, February 5, Dela Rosa acknowledged the significant challenges ahead, particularly in sustaining the progress made by his predecessor and ensuring the complete defeat of remaining threat groups in the area.
“I face the challenge of sustaining our gains and ensuring the enemy’s total defeat. I will continue the relentless, decisive military operations initiated by my predecessor, utilizing multi-discipline intelligence as a base against the remaining threat groups until they are defeated,” he said.
Dela Rosa emphasized that achieving this military success is essential for fostering a lasting culture of peace, which is at the core of his mission.
Eradicating the Culture of Rido
Dela Rosa outlined major focus areas that he believes are critical for ensuring long-term stability in Lanao del Sur. First, he highlighted the need to address the deep-rooted problem of clan feuds, known as “rido“, which have long plagued Mindanao, including Lanao del Sur.
“Rido is a stigma that not only affects our beloved province but also other provinces in Mindanao,” he explained.
He stressed that this conflict-driven culture poses major challenges for security forces and communities.
With this, Dela Rosa expressed his commitment to transforming the negative connotation of “rido “into a positive force for change.
He emphasized the importance of working closely with religious and traditional leaders, whom he views as essential allies in creating a factual narrative and countering extremist ideologies.
“We need to capacitate this group to be resilient against any threat so they can provide us with the right religious narrative, as this is the venue that some threat groups are exploiting to gain sympathy and expand their organization’s influence,” he said.
Combating the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons
Dela Rosa stressed the urgent need to curb firearm proliferation, a key driver of community violence. While mechanisms exist, the new brigade commander acknowledged the challenges faced by security forces in effectively enforcing these measures.
He cited the success of Isabela City in Basilan, which launched the Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) program in 2021 to prevent the spread of loose firearms.
“Isabela City has become a pioneer in this mission. In July 2024, Basilan province also signed a memorandum of understanding with the 101st Brigade to further support the implementation of the SALW program,” he noted.
While this example has been effective in Basilan, Dela Rosa emphasized the need for similar efforts in Lanao del Sur.
“For me to succeed in this endeavor, I need the unwavering support of our local government units, particularly the local chief executives, to sign similar memoranda of understanding,” he said.
The SALW Program is one of the components of Annex on Normalization under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). This empowers LGUs to regulate gun movement and streamline firearm registration at the barangay, city, and municipal levels.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa reaffirmed his commitment to the 103rd Infantry Brigade’s mission and expressed confidence that peace and stability can be achieved in Lanao del Sur with unity, collaboration, and decisive action.
He urged communities, officials, and stakeholders to join hands and support these efforts. (APB/PIA-10 Lanao del Sur)
